The Education Keynote Speaker Event Planners Trust and Audiences Never Forget
With more than 6,500 presentations around the world, Steve Spangler has built a reputation for something more than delivering a keynote that’s simply entertaining. He creates experiences audiences remember and talk about long after the event ends.
Conference organizers and event planners rely on Steve to do more than fill a keynote slot. He sets the tone, builds energy in the room, and creates shared moments that bring people together in ways that feel natural, not forced.
From state and national education conferences to school district events, leadership retreats, and association meetings, Steve works with educators and administrators at every level. Whether you’re opening a conference or welcoming staff back for a new school year, the goal is the same. Create a moment that people feel, remember, and carry with them.
That’s what a BEST DAY EVER experience is all about.
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Keynote Presentation
Best Day Ever – The Art & Science of Creating Unforgettable Learning Experiences
For educators, support staff, administrators, and leaders at every level
Without warning, something fizzles, pops, or explodes… and suddenly a room full of students is leaning forward, fully engaged, chanting, “Best day ever!”
That moment isn’t luck. It’s designed.
In classrooms everywhere, engagement feels harder to earn. Students may be doing the work, but too often they’re not fully invested in it. When that continues, curiosity fades, confidence drops, and learning becomes something to get through instead of something to experience. Teachers feel it. Students feel it. And over time, everyone stops expecting more.
In this keynote, Steve Spangler shows how to intentionally create those “best day ever” moments and why they matter now more than ever. The real challenge is not classroom management. It’s designing experiences students want to be part of.
Drawing from the real-world strategies behind his newest book, The Engagement Effect, Steve shares what he’s learned from decades in classrooms, on television, and in front of thousands of live audiences. Engagement does not happen by accident. It is built on purpose. These principles work across grade levels, content areas, and leadership roles — science teachers, early childhood educators, English teachers, administrators, and district leaders all leave with something they can use the very next day.
BEST DAY EVER is not just a reaction. It’s a repeatable approach — one that changes how educators think about their role and the experiences they create every single day.
“Students don’t remember everything you teach. They remember how it felt to be part of the experience you created.”
The Energy Stick Experience
At some point during the keynote, something shifts. The audience stops watching and starts participating.
Using a tool he invented called the Energy Stick, Steve turns the entire room into a living demonstration of what connection actually looks like. When participants join hands and complete the circuit, the stick lights up and the buzzer signals a connection has been made. What starts at one table spreads across the room until everyone is part of it.
That’s not a metaphor. That’s the moment.
For groups who want to send that feeling home with every participant, ask Carly about providing an Energy Stick for each attendee. It’s the most requested add-on Steve offers — and once you hear the feedback from your participants, you’ll understand why.
I cannot say enough about the power of your message and your masterful delivery. Our staff has not stopped talking about your words and presentation since you left. You changed the way we think about creating experiences for our students.
Steven Estepp – Superintendent, Mariemont City Schools
“The feedback on your district-wide keynote has been phenomenal… truly #Best Day Ever. Our educational staff overwhelmingly loved your presentation and engagement strategies. It’s going to be a great year.”
Patricia Gunderson – Superintendent, Lassen County Office of Education
WHAT AUDIENCES SEE
What audiences SEE is a fun, high-energy presentation featuring some of Steve’s coolest experiments used to build connections between educational concepts and real-world applications. Just watch out for the flying potatoes!
WHAT AUDIENCES HEAR
What audiences HEAR is Steve’s masterful storytelling drawn from years of experience as a classroom educator, business leader and science communicator. Steve’s insights help audiences reconnect with both the how and the why behind what we do every day.
HOW AUDIENCES FEEL
What audiences FEEL is a rekindled sense of hope and purpose. Steve will inspire you to connect differently, challenge you to think differently and commit you to engage differently as you set out to create your own unforgettable experiences.
Who Should Hear Steve Spangler?
Teachers from all walks of life love Steve Spangler and his passion for education. His message about the importance of creating experiences that connect and engage resonates with anyone connected to education. Steve is a popular speaker at state and national education conferences, association meetings, school district events, administrator retreats, STEM conferences and any other event where participants are focused on engaging and connecting at the highest level. If you’re looking for the perfect way to kick off a conference or welcome back your staff at the beginning of the school year, Steve Spangler should be at the top of your list.
6,500 Presentations and Counting
From the moment Steve Spangler steps on the stage, you know that this is not going to be your typical five points and a poem presentation. The energy is high, the visuals are wildly fun and the stories are filled with laughter that punctuates the deeper lessons of professional development and personal growth.
That’s why conference organizers and event planners give Steve Spangler rave reviews as the keynote speaker audiences never forget.
Best Day Ever is a Great Conference Theme
Conference planners and event organizers often use Steve’s Best Day Ever message as the unifying theme for their entire conference. Steve’s message of creating experiences that connect, engage and unlock a child’s creativity sets the stage for an event filled with learning and fun. Contact our office and let us help you customize an experience your participants will never forget.
Here’s What the Audience Had to Say…
“Steve Spangler just spoke to 1,800 of our conference attendees and he was phenomenal! Our goal was to find a way to get people to connect, share ideas and feel re-energized when they return to the classroom. Steve did all of that and more. Best Day Ever!“
Amy Currence – Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Steve Spangler is high-energy, engaging and effective! From start to finish, Steve is absolutely amazing and one of the greatest people we have had the pleasure to work with. He will definitely make your event “The Best Day Ever”!
Kevin Stewart, Director of Innovative Schools Summits AccuTrain Corp
“Incredible presentation at ScIC 11, but don’t take my word for it. We surveyed the audience and your NPS (Net Promoter Score) was off the charts with an unheard of score of 83. Seriously, that’s insane! Our tribe wants more Steve Spangler.“
David Bakker – ScIC (Science is Cool) Founder – CEO PocketLab
“Amazing content, best practices, and the perfect amount of fun and inspiration. Your keynote was truly the best we’ve ever seen!”
-Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children
“The audience didn’t know what hit them. Laughter, tears and deep insights that can only come from a real teacher. Your message was exactly what we needed to hear. Best Day Ever!“
Battelle Education SUMMIT
“Steve’s keynote presentation at Space Symposium’s Teacher Liaison breakfast was the inspirational roller coaster that kept every educator invigorated and equipped for the adventure of teaching and kept them cheering all the way. His presentation brought the entire room to tears, followed by raucous laughter. Best of all, his kindness and professionalism made him a delight to work with, and his passion and enthusiasm emboldened educators to create the “best day ever” experiences for their students.”
Courtney Black – Education Project Manager, International Space Station National Laboratory
I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Steve speak once before, but Saturday just hit a little different for me. There was a moment that I started crying because seeing the look on our participants’ faces… I realized that WE created this amazing experience together. Steve helped me rediscover my passion. Thank you for working with us and making sure we had “The Best Day Ever”!
Angela Cuellar – Director, Lake County Office of Education
About Steve Spangler
Steve Spangler brings charisma, energy and innovative ideas to the education profession. Nationally known as a teacher’s teacher, Steve travels extensively working with teachers on creative strategies to make learning more connected and engaging in the 21st century classroom. Steve’s in-person and virtual presentations focus on inquiry-based learning that highlight best practices for classroom teachers with research-guided strategies for purpose-driven engagement.
Spangler speaks regularly to educators and administrators at regional and national association meetings and over 100 private events annually. He challenges today’s educational leadership to provide professional development that gives teachers the skills needed to build connections that engage and inspire students to think differently and solve problems using a new level of creativity.
Meeting Planner Information
He’s a best-selling author, STEM educator and television host who finds the most creative ways to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
He’s the guy who’s responsible for sharing YouTube’s first viral science video teaching people how to drop those little Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke. Today, his videos on social media including Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube have more than 4.5 billion views (that’s with a “b”).
For the past 25 years, his books and online experiments have been widely used by parents and educators to increase student engagement and inspire young scientists to learn more about STEM-based careers.
If you saw the enormous mess that Steve repeatedly made on the Ellen Show over the past 15 years, you’ll understand why Ellen calls Steve… the science teacher you always wanted to have in school because the fire department shows up twice a year.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Steve Spangler.
To create the best experience for your audience, please review the following stage and audiovisual guidelines before Steve arrives. These details help ensure the demonstrations, visuals, and storytelling come through clearly for everyone in the room.
Microphone
A wireless lavaliere (clip on lapel) microphone is preferred. If your AV team requires a Countryman style microphone, Steve prefers a dual ear headset microphone that wraps around both ears for stability during demonstrations.
No Podium
Steve does not use a podium during his presentations. If a podium is required for other speakers, please position it off to the far left or far right side of the stage so the center stage area remains open.
Stage Lighting
The stage should be brightly and evenly lit so the audience can clearly see the demonstrations. Most of the activity takes place center stage, so lighting should focus on that area. Please avoid dim stage lighting that would make it difficult for the audience to see his interactive demonstrations.
Projector and Screen
Steve incorporates PowerPoint slides and short video clips throughout the presentation. All slides are formatted in 16:9 widescreen format, so the projection system and screens should be configured for 16:9 display whenever possible.
Computer Table on Stage
Steve must control his laptop from the stage, not from an AV table in the back of the room. Please provide a small table on one side of the stage with the following connections run directly to the table:
- HDMI cable for video
- Audio cable (standard headphone jack) for sound
This allows Steve to easily connect his laptop while remaining on stage during the presentation.
Slide Clicker
Steve travels with his own presentation remote (Perfect Cue). He will test the clicker during the sound check to ensure there is no interference with other wireless frequencies.
Important Note About the Presentation Computer
Due to copyright restrictions, Steve must use his own laptop to deliver his presentation. Slides and videos cannot be transferred to a house computer in advance.
If another presenter will be using the projection system before Steve, please arrange for a video switcher so the AV team can easily transition between computers. Attempting to unplug and swap laptops during the program often causes delays and technical issues.
There is no one single factor that influences the success of the presentation more than the set-up of the room. Steve and his support team are experts in helping you finalize a room layout that accommodates his high level of audience engagement.
Set-up Time
Steve needs to have at least 30 minutes away from the audience to set his materials and demonstrations. Someone from Steve’s team will be on hand to help distribute materials on tables or under chairs if Steve is doing a hands-on activity with the audience. This will be discussed in more detail after the program is booked.
Audience Seating
The distance from the first row of seats or tables to the stage (performing area) should be as small as possible. Speakers often joke about Death Valley – the greater the valley between the stage and the front row, the greater the likelihood the presentation is going to die. When possible, please keep Steve as close to the audience as possible.
Stage / Riser
The ideal stage/riser height for audiences of up to 200 people is 6 to 12 inches, and for larger audiences, a riser of 12 to 24 inches is appropriate. A stage or raised platform is only important if you want your audience to see, engage and benefit from Steve’s message!
Room Set-up
A wide room set-up is vastly superior to a long room set-up. In other words, in a rectangular meeting room, place your stage in the middle of the long wall so the audience is evenly divided between left and right.
Stage Lighting
It’s important to aim as much light on the stage as possible. If the venue is a hotel, check to make sure the lights over the stage area are working… and bright. If the room has theater spotlights or any type of stage lights, please aim them to cover the entire stage.
No Podium
Steve will not use a podium during any part of the presentation. If other speakers are using a podium, please position it on either the right or left side of the stage.
Tables on Stage
Please have a standard folding table (2×6) or something a little smaller on stage for Steve to set his props and demonstrations. Drape the table to make the stage look great. He will also need a hightop table (see below) for a specific demonstration. A tall waiter stand can be used in place of the highboy cocktail-style table, if necessary.
